West Papua 'rebel' held

DISABILITY pensioner Gerard Michael Little planned to ''engage in violent conflict against the Indonesian government'' in West Papua, a Brisbane court has been told.

Little, 45, from Tynong North, near Pakenham, has been charged under laws that prevent Australians engaging in hostile acts against other countries.

He was intercepted by police on his way to West Papua on Tuesday. Little was denied bail on Wednesday, with Brisbane magistrate Jacqui Payne deeming him a flight risk.

Federal police allege Little wanted to leave Australia and work as a mercenary in West Papua, and had trained in Ukraine.

Commonwealth prosecutor Justin Williams described the case against Little as ''overwhelming''.

Police stopped Little just before he boarded a plane at Brisbane International Airport. He is alleged to have planned to enter West Papua ''undetected'' through Papua New Guinea.

But defence counsel Nick Dore said Little had been invited to West Papua ''to provide a service'' and police still had a long investigation in front of them.

''There is a big difference between someone entering a country on a mercenary basis, uninvited, like someone in a Hollywood movie … and someone who is lawfully invited to attend,'' he said.

In a joint operation with Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police executed eight search warrants on Tuesday, assisted by Queensland police. Properties in Caulfield, East Bentleigh, Tynong North and Toowoomba, in Queensland, were raided, including Little's home, and those of his father and daughter.

The case has been adjourned to January 18.

At his Tynong North home, two of Little's friends, Michael O'Shea and Kevin Kelly, said all three had hoped to create a foundation for West Papuan refugees in Port Moresby.

They said Little, who lived on a pension as a result of a shoulder injury, identified as a member of the Wathaurong people and did not accept Australian sovereignty.

His Tynong North home was in disarray. Items seized by police included computer hard drives, documents and photographs, including pictures of him dressed in military uniform.

Mr Kelly said that Little was a colonel in the Free Papua movement. ''No prison will keep him,'' he said.

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